Regulated Non-Quarantine Projects

Two EU funded projects for the benefit of the whole EPPO region

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Justification for qualification based on EPPO PM 4 Standards
Justification for disqualification
Additional or non-conclusive information
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NAME OF THE ORGANISM: Stralarivirus fragariae (strawberry latent ringspot virus) (SLRSV0)


GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE PEST

Name as submitted in the project specification (if different):
 
Strawberry latent ringspot virus

Pest category:
 
Viruses and viroids


1- Identity of the pest/Level of taxonomic listing:

Is the organism clearly a single taxonomic entity and can it be adequately distinguished from other entities of the same rank?
 
Yes

Is the pest defined at the species level or lower?:
 
Yes

Can listing of the pest at a taxonomic level higher than species be supported by scientific reasons or can species be identified within the taxonomic rank which are the (main) pests of concern?
 
  • Not relevant: Fruits (including hops) sector
If necessary, please list the species:
 
-

Is it justified that the pest is listed at a taxonomic rank below species level?
 
Not relevant

Conclusion:
 
  • Candidate: Fruits (including hops) sector
Justification (if necessary):
 
Strawberry latent ringspot virus (SLRSV) is a member of the family Secoviridae.
This virus can be detected and identified in host plants and nematode vectors by specific reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays (RT-PCR) and/or sequencing. Antisera are also available and widely used for virus surveys and monitoring as well as for indexing of planting materials to ensure freedom from viruses (EFSA PLH, 2013). RT-PCR is commonly used in olive, including in certification programs for the detection and characterization of such plant viruses (Faggioli et al., 2005; Çağlayan et al., 2008).

2 – Status in the EU:
 
Is this pest already a quarantine pest for the whole EU?
 
No

Presence in the EU:
 
Yes

List of countries (EPPO Global Database):
 
Belgium (2015); Croatia (2016); Czech Republic (1994); Finland (1996); France (1992); Germany (1993); Greece (2020); Greece/Kriti (2020); Hungary (1995); Ireland (1993); Italy (1993); Luxembourg (1992); Netherlands (2022); Poland (1992); Portugal (1992); Spain (2011)

Conclusion:
 
Candidate

Justification (if necessary):
 
SLRSV is widely distributed in the EPPO region. Data of the presence of this pest on the EU territory are available in EPPO Global Database (https://gd.eppo.int/).

HOST PLANT N°1: Rubus (1RUBG) for the Fruits (including hops) sector.


Origin of the listing:
 
Commission Implementing Directive (EU) 2014/98/EU and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072

Plants for planting:
 
Plants intended for planting


3 - Is the pest already listed in a PM4 standard on the concerned host plant?
 
Yes
 
Conclusion:
 
Evaluation continues

 
Justification (if necessary):
 
EPPO Standard PM 4/10 Certification scheme for Rubus recommends testing for strawberry latent ringspot virus (SLRSV).
The Fruit SEWG decided to further analyse the data of economic impact available for this pest/host combination. Evaluation continues on this criteria.

4 - Are the listed plants for planting the main* pathway for the "pest/host/intended use" combination? (*: significant compared to others):
 
 
Conclusion:
 

 
Justification:
 

5 - Economic impact:

Are there documented reports of any economic impact on the host?
 
Yes

Justification:
 
In general very few reports on nepoviruses of berries can be found, most references dating before 1995.

Depending on the cultivar, SLRSV infections either remain symptomless (EFSA PLH, 2013; citing Lister, 1970) or resemble ArMV infections with severe stunting and vein yellowing of leaves (EFSA PLH, 2013; citing Murant & Lister, 1967). Crop losses of raspberry due to ArMV and SLRSV can be considerable when many plants are affected because infected plants will produce little or no fruit (EFSA PLH, 2013; citing Murant and Taylor, 1965).
However, the incidence of virus-infected plants generally remains localised because of limited spread by the nematode vectors (EFSA PLH, 2013).

Martin et al. (2013) report that ArMV and SLRSV in mixed infections caused raspberry yellow dwarf disease.

EFSA (2013) refers to Murant & Lister (1987) as part of a general statement on the impact of nepoviruses on Fragaria and Rubus. On checking, this article only relates specifically to RRV and TBRV alone or as a mixed infection on strawberry, and even then it states "with large outbreaks economic loss may...be considerable", and then proceeds to describe symptoms rather than economic impacts in sensu stricto.

What is the likely economic impact of the pest irrespective of its infestation source in the absence of phytosanitary measures? (= official measures)
 
Minimal to minor

Is the economic impact due to the presence of the pest on the named host plant for planting, acceptable to the propagation and end user sectors concerned?
 
Yes

Is there unacceptable economic impact caused to other hosts (or the same host with a different intended use) produced at the same place of production due to the transfer of the pest from the named host plant for planting?
 
No

Conclusion:
 
Not candidate

Justification:
 
Cultivation practices strongly limit this potential for impact. According to EFSA (2013), the most significant factor is certainly that efficient voluntary certification schemes for strawberry and raspberry are in place and ensure that healthy planting materials are used by growers. Additional factors contributing to a reduction of the impact are (1) the significantly shorter cycles of modern strawberry and raspberry cultivation practices (one to two seasons), which limit the potential for disease build-up, (2) the increasingly frequent use of soil-less cultivation practices, which limit the impact of nematode vectors and (3) the availability of resistant or tolerant cultivars of raspberry. As a consequence of the conjunction of these various factors, these nematode-transmitted viruses are found only occasionally in these crops and the diseases they cause are considered of minor significance by growers as illustrated during the hearing of industry experts. Current impact of these viruses (under existing regulatory framework) in Fragaria, Rubus and Ribes hosts was considered by EFSA (2013) to be minimal to minor, with low uncertainty.
The Fruit SEWG commented that voluntary certification schemes are not widely used in all EU countries. For instance, in Spain, between 60-70% of the material is certified in Fragaria, and practically nothing in Rubus and Ribes (certification started in 2024). Consequently, in absence of evidence for relevant symptoms and economic impact in the last decades, the Fruit SEWG concluded that economic impact should be considered as acceptable.

6 - Are there feasible and effective measures available to prevent the presence of the pest on the plants for planting at an incidence above a certain threshold (including zero) to avoid an unacceptable economic impact as regards the relevant host plants?
 
 
Conclusion:
 

Justification:
 

7- Is the quality of the data sufficient to recommend the pest to be listed as a RNQP?
 
 
Conclusion:
 

Justification:
 

CONCLUSION ON THE STATUS:
 
Disqualified: no economic impact reported in the last decade.


8 - Tolerance level:

Is there a need to change the Tolerance level:
 
Yes

Proposed Tolerance levels:
 
Delisting

9 - Risk management measures:

Is there a need to change the Risk management measure:
 
Yes

Proposed Risk management measure:
 
Delisting


REFERENCES: